State House Democrats will meet in private caucus on Wednesday afternoon to try to resolve a leadership dispute that has delayed logistical planning for the upcoming session.

Rep. Joseph Souki, who has said he has enough votes to become speaker, called the caucus.

The Maui Democrat said he would outline his proposed leadership and committee slate, which still has slots available for Democrats who have yet to join Souki’s coalition of dissident Democrats and Republicans.

Rep. Marcus Oshiro, who has held on to some of the loyalists to House Speaker Calvin Say, has been asking for a caucus among Democrats. Oshiro said he would ask Souki to explain his alliance with minority Republicans, who have been promised three committee vice chairmanships under Souki.

For some perspective on how the struggle was handled two years ago, when the Say faction was larger and the dissidents were holding out for more positions and Say was threatening to use Republican votes, we can turn to this blog’s archives:

Unfortunately, the loss of Gil Agaron to the Senate has dropped the number of Souki supporters to 25 Democrats, meaning he will have to rely upon the Republican votes to win. Beyond the loss of his one vote, Agaron was a key player in the Souki-Dissident alliance. He was respected and liked by legislators in both camps, possesses a good strategic sense and leaves a big hole. WIth so many leadership positions going to former Say supporters, the reform character of an incoming Souki speakership is less obvious with Agaron’s departure. Gil helped hold it all together and keep it on-track. Now, it is just numbers and personalities.

Just got a buzz that C Evans, Says Majority Floor will get WaterLand. Another plum committee to a former majority leader if true. This is the strangest damn coup I’ve ever seen.
What will Calvin get, besides Joes old doorplate of Speaker Emeritus?
To Kolea;
It was always just numbers and personalities. These chair assignments show that. Oh… and excise tax.
G K-A was certainly a force, but from my understanding not a natural politician. A serial appointee whose been right place, right time. I guess that is more of a gift than a skill.